Reflections about copyright infringement on personal computers
Reflections about copyright infringement on personal computers
I enjoy watching movies and shows since Netflix isn’t great in South America, making it feel silly to pay for less content than what’s available for free. It’s different from gaming where most pirated games can still be played online. In games, I usually pirate everything, especially thinking GTA V on PC will be the first one I order when it drops. I buy games only if they’re worth it—currently I have around 60 titles on Steam, plus more from Origin, AC Unity, FC3, and Splintercell on Uplay. I do purchase games, but most of them I pirate because I don’t have much money or I doubt the price matches the value. Sometimes I wait for big Steam sales to buy low, or I just play and then remove it.
Piracy is outdated and harms the industry more than it benefits. The ethical issues involved are significant. There’s little evidence supporting piracy. A strong case could exist for games or software that’s no longer available, yet copies are easily found on platforms like eBay or Amazon at very low prices.
Australia faces some challenges but not as severe as before. FarCry 4 costs roughly $20 more on Steam than on physical media, yet COD:AW is comparable. At retail, prices are similar to the US after the recent AUD drop. You could find a $50 US Steam credit at EBs now worth about $46 USD. Prices have dropped in Australia while rising in the US over the past years. Nearly everything matches except a few exceptions. Paying developers through grey-market is just as problematic as piracy, but it doesn’t seem urgent since there’s no strong incentive. If you wish to support creators, paying for their work is clearly the better choice, especially with digital options available for much of the content from the past ten years.
I don't agree. Engineering studies demanded familiarity with and application of numerous costly commercial tools (like Ansys). You wouldn't think I'd invest tens of thousands in software such as Ansys alone. Let's be real—college computers weren't an option. I'm aware some firms offer student licenses, but many aren't affordable, especially when multiple ones are needed. I appreciate how Crytek handles their engine; it's free until you start generating revenue from it.